Seam for sewed articles



Dec. 17, 1935. w 5 LE Y 2,024,971

SEAM FOR SEWED ARTICLES Filed June 25, 1953 gmm W Elm M Patented Dec. 17, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SEAM FOR SEWED ARTICLES Walter E. Le Roy, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 23, 1933, Serial No. 677,340

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in a seam for sewed articles, and more particularly to a seam for joining and covering the edges of fabric sections in such a manner as to produce a flat seam structure.

An object of the invention is to provide, in a stitched article, means whereby the raw or cut edges of the fabric are concealed by a tape and wherein the tap is adapted to lie substantially fiat against the fabric.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a seam, of the type referred to, wherein the edge portions of superimposed fabric sections are folded in the same direction upon one of the fabric sections and wherein the edges thereof are covered and concealed by a binding strip which is secured by a line of stitching passing through the fabric sections, the folded edge portions thereof and the binding strip.

A further object of the invention is to provide a seam, of the type referred to, wherein the edges of the binding strip are concealed and wherein, when the fabric sections are opened up, a fiat seam structure is produced and the line of stitching is concealed from view on the right side of the fabric sections.

These and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is an enlarged view in perspective and in section showing the improved seam at the completion of the sewing operation before the fabric sections have been opened up. I

Fig. 2 is a similar enlarged view in perspective showing the improved seam after the fabric sections have been opened up.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in perspective and in section showing the reverse side of the completed seam.

Fig. 4 is a smaller view showing the fiat seam structure after the parts have been pressed.

Fig. 5 represents a modification of the invention when used as an edging.

This invention is directed generally to a seam for sewed articles, and is more particularly directed to a flat seam structure which may be employed in the manufacture of dresses, or other garments, or articles. The edge portions of the fabric sections are superimposed one upon another with the edges thereof in substantial alignment. The edge portions are folded back upon one of the fabric sections and a binding strip is employed to cover the raw or cut edges. One

edge of the binding strip is folded to lie between the lower fabric section and the infolded edge portion thereof and the other edge of the binding strip is folded upon itself to lie adjacent the infolded edge of the upper fabric section. The folded edges of the binding strip are spaced apart by the interposed folded edge portions of the fabric sections, but are otherwise in overlying relationship so that the line of stitching passes through the fabric sections, the folded edge portions thereof, the binding strip and both folded edges of the binding strip. In this manner, a verystrong seam is produced and when the upper fabric section is opened up, the binding strip will lie flat against the fabric sections and the line of stitching will be concealed on the outside of the garment or article.

Referring more in detail to the accompanying drawing, it will be noted that the fabric sections I0, II are superimposed one upon the other with' the edge portions I2, I3 in substantial alignment. The fabric sections I0, II indicate either a single piece of material, the edges of which are to be joined, or two pieces of material which are to be joined. The edge portions I2, I3 are folded upon the lower fabric section Ill and remain in contact with each other. A binding strip I4 is employed to cover the cut or raw edges of the folded edge portions I2, I3. One edge portion I5 of the binding strip I4 is folded to lie between the fabric section II) and the folded edge portions I2 thereof which forms the inner face of the folded portions so that the raw edges of the portions I2, I3 are covered by the binding strip. The other edge l6 of the binding strip I4 is folded upon the binding strip and is'adapted to lie next to the folded edge portion I3 of the fabric section II, which folded edge portion forms the outer face of the folded portions. The edges I5a, I6a of the folded edge'portions I5, l6 respectively of the binding strip are in overlying relationship but are spaced apart by the folded edge portions I2, I3 of the fabric sections. Thus, when a line of stitching I1 is passed through the various parts of the seam, the edge portions I5, I6 of the binding strip will be securely held by the stitching. It will be noted that the line of stitching passes through the fabric sections III, II, then through the edge portion I5 of the binding strip, then through the folded edge portions I2, I3 of the fabric sections, then through the folded edge portion I6 of the binding strip, and finally through the binding strip itself so that the entire seam structure is united by this single line of stitching I I in a compact and durable manner.

The fabric section II is opened up after the completion of the seam, as shown in Fig. 2, which shows the outside of the garment or article. It will be noted that the line of stitching I1 is concealed from view when the fabric sections are opened to extend in opposite directions from said line of stitching, as shown in Fig. 2. It is to be particularly noted, too, that theedges l5, l6 of the binding strip l4 will lie against the fabric sections I0, I I respectively when the same are opened.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that an attractive, neat and serviceable seam is provided for joining the edges of fabric sections. The raw or cut edges of the binding strip and the fabric sections are concealed as well as the line of stitching on the outside of the completed garment.

A modified form of the invention is shown in Fig. 5. In this modification, the purpose is to provide an edging for a fabric section 20. An edge portion 2| of the fabric section is infolded upon itself. A tape 22 is applied thereto in such a manner that the infolded edge 23 of the tape 22 lies between the fabric section 20 and the infolded edge 2| thereof, so that the raw edge of the fabric section is concealed as is also shown in Fig. 1. The other edge 24 of the tape 22 extends beyond the folded edge of the fabric section and is folded upon itself to lie adjacent the lower face of the infolded edge portion 2| of the fabric section. The two folded edges of the tape are thus in overlying relationship but spaced apart by the infolded edge portion 2i of the fabric section. A line of stitching 25 is then passed through the fabric, the edge 23 of the tape, the infolded edge 2| of the fabric, the other edge 24 of the tape and finally through the tape 22 itself so that the edging is firmly held in proper position. It is apparent, from the foregoing, that an edging is herewith provided wherein the raw edges are concealed and wherein the tape is adapted to lie flat and in substantially the planeof the fabric section.

It is obvious that minor changes may-be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my inve tion, what I claim as new and desire to secure y Letters Patent, is:

1. A seam for sewed articles comprising fabric sections'having the edge portions thereof superimposed and folded upon one of said fabric sections, a binding strip having the edges thereof folded to lie in spaced overlying relationship, one of said folded edges being disposed between the body fabric and the folded edge portions thereof and the other of said folded edges engaging only the outer face of said folded edge portions and a line of stitching passing through the fabric sections, the folded edge portions thereof, the binding strip and the spaced overlying edges thereof whereby, when the fabric sections are opened to extend in opposite directions from the line of stitching, the binding strip will lie adjacent said fabric sections at one side thereof and the line of stitching will be concealed from view on the other side of the fabric sections.

2. A seam for sewed articles comprising fabric 25 sections having the edge portions thereof superimposed and folded upon one of said fabric sections, a binding strip having oneedge portion thereof extending about the edgesof the folded edge ,portions of said fabric sections and having the opposite edge portion thereof folded upon itself and terminating short of the edges of said fabric sections, said folded opposite edge of said binding strip extending well beyond the fold in saidfabric sections, and a line of stitching passing through said fabric sections, the folded edge portions thereof, the binding strip and the edgeportions thereof whereby, when the fabric sections are opened, the line of stitching will be concealed on the right side thereof and the edges of the binding strip will lie adjacent-the fabric sections.

WALTER E. LE ROY. 

